Young Man releasing Vol. 1 on Frenchkiss Records. And he’s not just confusing everyone, he’s touring!

I bet you think gathering and writing news stories here at TMT has something to do with emails and Google searches. You’re wrong. Ever heard of an Incredible News Flash Contraption? It’s shaped like a tuba and built mostly out of popsicle sticks, glass bottles, and papier-mâché. Throughout the day, various announcements shoot out from it, usually slips of paper folded into airplanes, and occasionally birds or hats.

This morning, I unfolded my airplane and read about Young Man, the project of singer-songwriter/producer Colin Caulfield. He’s about to hit the road for a spring tour, and on May 22, he’s releasing Vol. 1, an album produced by John McEntire (who’s worked with the likes of Broken Social Scene, Tortoise, and The Sea & Cake). Even though the title implies that it’s the first in some sort of series, Vol. 1 is actually the second part of an album trilogy that began with last year’s Ideas of Distance. Because reports from the News Flash Contraption come equipped with miniature music players and tiny sets of speakers, I got to listen to an alternate version of “Then & Now,” a track off of Ideas of Distance, and you can check it out at IFC.